Well Grounded, the enigmatic Californian musician and songwriter, has made a stunning comeback after a decade-long hiatus with his new single “Sailing On”. Known for his private nature and esoteric approach to music, Well Grounded finds making music a meditative process, sharing it with the hope that it’ll bring meaning to others. He writes, arranges, records, mixes and masters all of his songs, performing all of the vocals and instrumentation as well, and his influences are diverse, ranging from reggae and world music and artists such as Bob Marley, Fela Kuti and Antibalas.
“Sailing On” is a song that has been over 20 years in the making. Originally written and performed under a different artist name, the song has undergone a transformation in tone and mood, reflecting Well Grounded’s personal growth and focus on health over the last decade. While the song speaks to the illusory nature of the world, it offers a feeling of hope and optimism, a fitting outro for a song that originally had no relief for the listener.
The song itself is a laid back, grooving reggae jam full of off-beat guitar rhythms, a gently snapping beat and touches of piano leads. Well Grounded’s vocals are lofty and airy, washed in reverb, giving the song a dreamy and reflective quality. The overall effect is a catchy yet elegant song that’s impossible not to love.
What makes “Sailing On” so remarkable is the sheer amount of care and attention that Well Grounded has put into it. He recorded, mixed and mastered the track himself over the course of a few months at his home studio, resulting in a song that’s polished and professional while retaining a raw, intimate and organic quality.
Well Grounded’s return to music after a long hiatus is a welcome one, and “Sailing On” is a testament to his artistry and musicianship. It’s clear that his passion for music has never waned, and his dedication to his craft is evident in every note of this stunning new single. For fans of reggae and indie pop, as well as those who appreciate thoughtful and reflective songwriting, “Sailing On” is a must-listen.
We caught up with Well Grounded to find out about his inspirations, his new single “Sailing On” and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Well Grounded below.
Hey Well Grounded, howâs things?
Good! Great actually. Happy to be talking to you today and getting the chance to share with your
audience.
How did you first get into making your own music?
I’ve always loved music. I got my first album, UB40’s ‘Rat in Mi Kitchen’ when I was three years old
after hearing the title track on the radio and desperately trying to communicate to my mom what I had
heard. Thanks, Mom, for figuring it out and getting the album for me!
I had the privilege of trying out a number of different instruments as a youth and in my teens, but I was
always sort of a hack: I didn’t really put in the time to practice and gain any sort of mastery of any of
the instruments.
In my early 20’s, a friend of mine who was into producing music told me about Reason. I got the first
version of the software and was immediately hooked on making beats, mostly drum and bass. I’ve been
using Reason since then and it has come a long way: it’s now a fully-featured DAW whereas it started
out as more of synthesiser and had a very inorganic sound.
It was also around that time that I first started playing reggae and punk covers and originals in a band
with a couple of friends from high school.
Which artist first made a lasting impression on you?
Man, there’s been so many, but the one that stands above the rest is Bob Marley. That might sound
cliché, but he really was such an incredible song writer, vocalist, performer, and activist. I wish I had
been born early enough to have seen him play live.
Which artists do you draw most inspiration from today?
The last few years I’ve been listening to a lot of Jamaican reggae revival artists: Protoje, Kabaka
Pyramid, Jah9, Jesse Royal, Mortimer, Koffee, Keznamdi, and Lila Iké, to name a few. From the
international reggae scene, I really enjoy Marcus Gad, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Nick Sefakis, and Fat
Freddy’s Drop.
I’ve also been heavily influenced by afrobeat artists such as the great Fela Kuti, Antibalas, and lesser
known acts like KOKOROKO. Then there’s more mixed-genre stuff like Big Mean Sound Machine,
Combo Chimbita, Novalima, Jazzanova⊠I could go on forever.
How else do you find inspiration for your music?
My music has always come from a place of meditation. I’m sort of constantly thinking on the good and
the bad in the world, and music and lyrics is how I work it out. For a long time, most of my music was
focused more on the struggles we face, individually and collectively. I feel myself coming more into a
place where I want to find hope and positivity despite the struggle, or as a solution to it. I think this
new recording of ‘Sailing On’ reflects that.
Generally, I find inspiration in both the beautiful and ugly; the sense that we’re trapped here, whatever
this is, but that there is something bigger just beyond the veil.
What do you love about your local music scene?
To be honest, I’m not really plugged into the local music scene. I moved here about a year ago and
there aren’t as many opportunities to experience live music here (or maybe I’m just older and out of
touch). That said, I’ve lived in Southern California for some time and there’s a wide array of venues and
different music communities here that we have the opportunity to experience.
Before the pandemic, one of my favorite places to see a show was The Observatory in Santa Ana: it’s
large enough that you feel that you’re sharing the experience with a real crowd, but intimate enough
that you feel you’re right there with the band from almost any spot in the room.
What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?
Hmm, anywhere that they’re most comfortable, really. But maybe in a natural setting, a park, or a
beach. I could even see listening to this track while going for a run, hike, or a drive. I hope to make
music that makes sense in multiple settings.
What made you take such a long break from making music?
About the time I walked away from music, I had been pushing hard for so long with what felt like very
little in the way of results. I wasn’t working at that point, so I was broke, and was in a really toxic set of
environments that weren’t feeding me mentally and spiritually. Physically, I was sick and getting
sicker. Because music had turned into work instead of being the meditation I needed to navigate
through my struggles, I had no anchors at that point.
Walking away broke my heart: it felt like giving up and giving in. I really couldn’t enjoy making music,
or even listening to it, for some time afterwards. In the following years I pursued school, a career, and
got diagnosis and began treatment for underlying health issues. In all, I needed to take this time away
from music in order to come back to it from a place of strength. I guess I know now that I sort of had
faith the whole time that the music would come back to me when the time was right.
How did you find making your first single for a decade?
It was great! It felt like the right time. I have been sort of ramping up to it over the last few years, really
learning how to play piano finally and making new beats here and there in my spare time. ‘Sailing On’
sort of popped in my head again and I laid down an initial arrangement and recording of the vocals and
had that same sort of excitement I once had when working on new music.
I’d like to plug Melodics here, which is an incredible app for learning keys, drums, or pads. I’ve been
using it learn piano for about three years now, and drums for about six months. They’ve sort of
gamified learning music, and it is a very effective teaching tool. For those wishing to try Melodics out,
they can go here and use discount code AFFILIATEMARAPRMAY to get 15% off a monthly or annual subscription.
What message did you want to get across with this release?
The lyrics in ‘Sailing On’ are a reflection on the place we find ourselves in. What is life? Where are we?
Layered on top of that, what is the nature of the systems we are members of? Do we make them or are
they designed for us, and for what purpose? Whom do these systems benefit? More than that, the
song/lyrics offer a potential solution: you don’t have to participate in systems that aren’t to your liking;
you can build new ones or reframe the existing ones to work better for you and those around you.
How has your sound changed after your hiatus?
I suppose my sound, technically, is a bit more polished. I’m not in such a rush to just get new music and
ideas out there hoping that one of them will catch fire. I spent about three months on this track, taking
off days in between recording sessions, and really waited until the song was ‘done’ until I released it.
At a higher level, the tone of my music and lyrics is more balanced, I think. ‘Sailing On’ mostly feels
the same as the original recording from 20 years ago, but it needed a positive outcome, outlook, and
resolution, which I think I’ve added in the tempo, tone, and outro section.
What artist have you been listening to most recently?
Over the last year, I guess that would be Protoje. I also have to mention Iotosh, who has produced a lot
of the best tracks from the last several years from Protoje, Jah9, Lila Iké, and others.
Whatâs the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?
Maybe just to slow down for a minute and be thoughtful; to be present. We’re all so distracted in the
modern world and we’ve lost a lot of our natural grounding as a result.
Whatâs been your favourite live show so far?
Another tough question. Can I do three?
I finally saw Antibalas play in LA about five years ago. I had wanted to see them since I first
discovered them, but they mostly played on the East Coast and I had since moved back out to
California. This local band, Jungle Fire, opened for them and they were both just mind blowing in
terms of musicality and stamina (Jungle Fire played three, high-paced songs back-to-back to start their
set).
Just before the pandemic I saw Collie Buddz. This was another first time seeing an artist that I had
wanted to see for some time. He and his band were great, and the energy was perfect. But more
surprising was Keznamdi, who opened the show. What a great performer! And his band was so talented
and just obviously vibing with one another. The were doing these like really technical rock/metal
breakdowns at the end of each song and it left a big impression on me.
Last but not least would be seeing Damian Marley at HOB with Kabaka Pyramid. This was the ‘Stony
Hill’ tour and the whole thing was incredible. Damian has so much presence, Big Youth was there to
perform the intro to the set (the same one from the album, which is basically his own ‘I Pray Thee’), and
Stephen Marley came out to do ‘Medication’ and a few Bob Marley tracks. That was my first time
hearing Kabaka as well, who is a fantastic song writer and performer in his own regard.
Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?
Dang, this one’s hard. I’m going to simplify it by going with still active artists, ones that I’ve seen
already and know put on great performances: Damian Marley, Antibalas, and Keznamdi. The festival
would be at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. I’ve never been there, but have seen a number of
videos and everyone that I know that has been there has said it’s their favourite venue.
Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?
First off, trust your gut and stay true to yourself. If you have that âthingâ, a lot of people are going to be
attracted to it. Some will want to take it from you or figure out your âsecretâ. Some may mean well, but
will give advice and aren’t necessarily willing or able to follow through with helping you on your
journey.
Second, don’t try to make music your career, especially if music means a lot to you. Get a job, develop
a career, and work for pay doing something that isn’t your passion. Not all of us can be a huge,
financially successful musician, and that’s fine. It’s especially important to first take of your other needs
if you have people that depend on you. Your music is going to be a lot better and more sustainable if
you take a holistic approach to it and to your well being.
Lastly, never give up. I know that seems like it might clash with the last point, but I mean more on the
larger scale. Taking time away from music does not mean that you have to walk away forever. Keep
the fire alive, even if you can’t keep it raging all the time.
By the way, I’m not preaching what I don’t practice: all of the above were ideas that motivated my new
artist name, Well Grounded.
Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?
I have a really big cover tune coming up next that I am super excited about. In fact, it’s a combined
cover of two songs by two different artists. Both songs mean a lot to me, and I’ve been playing around
with this idea of fusing them for some time. Honestly, I think it has the chance to be a real hit just
because the main cover is of a song that is beloved by so many people, but it’s a new take on it.
After that, I hope to release another original and another cover by the end of the year. I think if I get
five or six singles that sort of fit together, I’ll mix down and release an EP.
Listen to Sailing On below
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